When we find ourselves at war, our leaders don’t ask us to reflect upon our role in the world (and why we face such ill-will); they ask us to spend more money to keep the economy active. When we face the potential end of species (or vast diminishment of), we don’t take drastic actions to change; we tell ourselves we can buy “greener” stuff. And even here, where we are encouraged to revel in the “human spirit” we’re far more inclined to buy some overpriced nationalistic merchandise than we are to ask about our less fortunate neighbours, and how we might tangibly exhibit such sentiments.